Wire working tool



Dec. 18, 1956 D. c. CORNE WIRE WORKING TOOL Filed Aug. 26, 1955 IN! 'EXTOR.

00077 C. COR V5 A TTORNEY wil United States Patent This invention'relates to wire working tools. An object of the present invention is 'to provide a novel wire working tool adapted toboth attach and detach, for example, fence wire to posts or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wire working tool having a head adapted to both coil and uncoil an end of wire around a strand of wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the type set forth having a single means for rotating a wire working head to both coil and uncoil end of wire around a strand of wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide'a tool of the type described having a wire working head provided with means for uncoiling a wire and means for simultaneously guiding the portion of the wirebeing uncoiled. v

' Another object of the invention is to provide awir'e working tool of the type described which can be manu factured economically from a minimum of strong, light parts.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein aj. preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the tool showing the side of the head adapted to uncoil a wire.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the tool shown in Fig. 1 as seen from the top thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tool of the preceding figures and showing the side of the head adapted to coil the wire end around the wire strand in securing the wire to the post.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tool of the preceding figures and showing the side of the head adapted to uncoil the wire end from around the wire strand for detaching the wire from the post.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the head as seen in isolated relationship.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1, the wire wrapping tool of the present invention is shown having a handle indicated generally at 16. A side plate 11 is secured to the handle by suitable means such as the rivets 13 and 14. The side plate 11 and the handle are formed with a slotted portion 16 which rotatably carries a head which is indicated generally at 18.

Referring particularly to the head 18, it is seen that the outer periphery thereof is formed with a plurality of teeth '20 each of which includes a face portion 21. A pawl 23 is pivotally mounted to the handle member 10 by means of the rivet 14. The pawl 23 is formed with an end portion 25, with such end portion extending through the slot 26 and in operating engagement with ratchet teeth 20. A spring member 28 is provided on the handle, at the rivet 29, for biasing the pawl 23 against the outer periphery of the head 18.

" 2,774,392 Ice Patented Dec. 18, 1956 Referring next to Fig. 3, the tool of the present invention is shown in an operative position wherein such tool is serving to form a coil 31 around the end of a wire strand indicated generally at 32. It will be noted that the wire strand 32 passes through the slot portion 16, in the handle and side plate combination, and also through a corresponding slot in the head 18. The wire 32 then extends around a post 34 and into the coil 31. When the tool and wire are in the coil forming positionof Fig. 3,.a loose wire end portion 36slidably passes through a hole 37, which hole extends from the slot portion in the head outwardly through the periphery thereof. It will be noted that the hole 37 is substantially aligned with a side surface 40 of a U-shaped wire forming groove 39 formed in the wire coiling sideof'the head 18.

' In forming the coil 31, when the handle. is lifted in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 3, the pawl end'25 engages a tooth 20 on the head 18, thereby rotating said head in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 3. It will be noted that a single coil 31a is in the process of formation. As the coils are progressively formed the wire end 36 will be drawn inwardly through the hole 37 until such wire end has been completely coiled around the wire strand 32. Due to unidirectional drive for the head consisting of the teeth 20 and the pawl 23, the coil 31 is formed by an upwardly and downwardly oscillation of the handle 10. After the wire end 36 has been completely coiled around the strand 32, the rotation of the head'lS is stopped at a position wherein the slot in the head is indexed with the slot 16 formed by the handle and side plate 11. The tool can then be withdrawn from the coiling position wherein the head surrounds the wire strands 32.

f The means on the head for uncoiling a,wire end from around a wire strand will next be described in detail.

Referring particularly to'Fig. 4, the wire wrapping tool is" shown in aposition wherein such tool is inverted relative to its position shown'in Fig. 3. The wire. strand 32 passes centrally thr'oughlthe head 18 and the coil 31 is in engagement with and be'inguncoiled by a wire uncoiling means. It will be seen that the wire end 36 extends downwardly within the confines of a groove 42 which is formed into the peripheral surface 43 of the wire uncoiling side of the head 18. As seen in Fig. 4, when the handle 10 is actuated in the direction of the arrow, the head 18 is rotated in a clockwise direction and the lower surface 46 of the groove 42 is forced under an end 54 of the wire portion 36. Hence a coil 48 is being uncoiled as seen in Fig. 4. As the head 18 rotates, the surface 46 and the groove 42 will continue to uncoil the coil 31 until the wire 32 can be removed from its position surrounding the post 34.

Referring again to Fig. 4, as a coil such as 48 is being unwrapped, such coil 48 will extend outwardly to a greater radial extent than the tight coils of the coil portion 31. Clearance is provided for the coil 48 by means of a cam surface 50 formed on the wire uncoiling side of the head 18. At the same time, the face of the cam portion 50 engages the side of the extended coil 48 and guides same in alignment with the direction of the extension of the groove 42. Hence itis seen that the groove 42 and the cam surface 50 engage and guide the extended coil 48 so that the tightly coiled portion 31 can be unwound in a smooth and efficient manner, and the tool will not jam, drop the wire, or tend to move to a position out of alignment with the correct operating position wherein the plane of the handle portion 10 is perpendicular to the direction of extension of the wire strand 32. As a result, after the present tool has been placed in engagement with the coil to be unwrapped, the

- 7 was! garag a er, the groove a -1 a proper axial dis'tth'e unwrapping cipra'tion'eaniie fapinlyan'd eflicientlyac complished without the close} attention of the operator,

and without need for the ope'rator to exert twisting pres sures to tlieli inal fitl, w" toblwef not properly g'niddand self a from the axis tli relief tor opefatingsaidnieans f and innnidrrc'tionatdfivingenga for operating saidfneans'uponactuationiof said handle;

surface; "saidineans 'ineliidinga eamsnrraee 'p sin adjacent-said first open end' to engage'the'wi're 6n" "the fia'ndre and 'in nriidire'c't'ional" driving eng r with said-ratchet for operating said means uponjactuatior'i J L "merit *coniprising, in combination, means formed "on a side portion of said head and adapted'to' unwrap a coil of wire from around a strand of wire, said means including a groove for liftingly engaging thewire being linwrappe d, said groove having' an open inner end' lying adjacent to the axis of the head, a Wire engaging surface extending outwardly through s'aid headto an outer open end in the periphery 01E the h ead, and spacedside walls forming a guide shoulder 'on-each 'side of wire on said a. 'wire-engaging 'surface; a ratchet'gfofmed 'on said'head;

a spring-pressed pawl piv'otally onnted on th handle s3. Animproyement in wire working tools of the type having a handle, a head rotatably mounted on the handle and having an axially extending wire-receiving opening therethrough and a peripheral 'w all said iir provenient d to a second open end in e wart-s a oflp'n "said wire eng naaaa eaam-meaieizgrmigpaasig 2 

